I came across this link while thumbing through Tweets on my phone this morning. It seems as if the economy is still staying low camera companies are putting their best people on design teams to make there products stand out from the others. Panasonic's new AG-AF100. Taking all the positive features of today's DSLR with a little edge, it was designed for video not stills. It will enable it's users to use cine lenses as opposed to compacts found out there for our DSLR's. Depth of field will be shallower than some of its competitors. And the list goes on and on.

I have used a number of Panasonic's, HVX 200's, DVX100 A's and B's, hell I stuff a consumer GS320 into a water housing for some shooting. The colors are great, usability is simple and price for quality isn't that bad either. So what are the cons of this new camera.

Well, for one making the HD switch can be a gamble as new technology is out ever day it seems. Waiting for the right camera could be a life long fantasy, but one that can use interchangeable lenses, be user friendly, do everything you need it to do with an estimated delivery date at the end of the year... all for 5,250$.

Wait... What?

I am a gear nerd as much as the next but here is where the cons start for me. I went to grad school for film and it's good thing I did now that I am working retail. (Thank you economy!) I work hard to keep my dreams of making flicks. But at 5,250$, damn that makes the DSLR's look so much better, with an even shallower depth of field, and the ability to process the footage on my 5 year old Ibook, it's seems as though the money might come into it. But the more I look at it the more I see why other cameras might work better I film sports mostly. I rugged camera with interchangeable lenses is what I need, and if I break something it is not as much of a hit on the wallet as this big boy is.

Does this mean I will shy away from it when the chance might fall upon me to stand behind it and capture some magic? Hell no! The pros list is definitely the longer of the two lists, and I can always make my name on the less expensive DSLR's and make that upgrade when time and money allow.

But the question I face myself with everyday is whether or not it is the camera that makes a great movie or the people surrounding it? I will have to go with the latter part of the question. So for now I need to shoot with what I have and make the movies I want to make because maybe someday I can make that amazing flick and people will love it and then I might be able to play around with all the new things coming out.